Mayo Clinic cardiologists Robert P. Frantz, M.D., and Gurpreet S. Sandhu, M.D., Ph.D., discuss chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and possible treatment options.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension occurs when the body is unable to clear blood clots from the lungs, creating residual obstruction of the blood vessels to the lungs. Symptoms of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension include shortness of breath and exercise limitations.

The standard treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is initiation of blood thinners; however, in some cases, intervention is required. Although traditional intervention required opening the chest, with advances in technology, pulmonary balloon angioplasty can be used to open the blood vessels in the lungs.

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Video content outline:

•        Introduction
•        Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (0:30)
•        Where do blood clots come from? (0:49)
•        Patient story (1:23)
•        Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (4:28)
•        Conclusion (8:30)